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[spoone]

i'm really sorry for all the second hand shops. but i doubt that it's going to be more expensive than it is right now. at least regarding gamestop. i don't know if gamestop america is a different story but here in germany they are so expensive, most of the time, even with old games, you can grab games at a lower price, or the same price, unused and factory sealed with all codes intact (if any) from the big retailers such as saturn or mediamarkt.

[Aldanga]

This is going to cause significant overhead for GameFly and Blockbuster, at least initially. I wonder if they'll even rent Xbox One games.

This doesn't sound as draconian as what people were speculating, but I'm still not a huge fan of it.

[DrDeath2099]

I will say that I haven't bought much from Gamestop or our local pawnshop in a couple years because the prices are usually better through Amazon or another online store.  Usually when I do buy something from Gamestop, its in the way of a new game with some preorder bonus that I want.  I'm more concerned about the fact that they want to do away with physical copies of games.  I still have games from the old atari 2600 days and although the games are archaic by today's standards, its still something to know that I have them and can play them anytime I want.  When you buy a digital copy of a game, you're really only renting it.  They can be removed from the servers at any point.  I had a couple games that I bought on the iPad that have since been removed from the appstore and are no longer accessible.  My own fault for not backing them up

I had heard that Bruce Willis was trying to do something so that he could pass his music library from iTunes down to his kids when he dies because it was thousands of dollars worth of music.  I'm curious if something like this will happen with gaming too.

[wilgo45]

QUOTE(Aldanga @ May 24 2013, 01:44 PM)

This is going to cause significant overhead for GameFly and Blockbuster, at least initially. I wonder if they'll even rent Xbox One games.

This doesn't sound as draconian as what people were speculating, but I'm still not a huge fan of it.

Aldanga  .... quit being so sweet hearted.

It is Draconian.

[Aldanga]

I didn't say it wasn't draconian. I just said it wasn't as draconian as some had speculated.

I don't have an issue with the used game market dying if I can buy games at prices similar to Steam sales. PC used games are basically non-existent anymore. I don't hear very many people complaining about that because they can buy new games super cheap.

[telo{+}]

QUOTE(Aldanga @ May 24 2013, 07:44 PM)

This is going to cause significant overhead for GameFly and Blockbuster, at least initially. I wonder if they'll even rent Xbox One games.

This doesn't sound as draconian as what people were speculating, but I'm still not a huge fan of it.

Gamefly is all I care about. Gamestop can suck it, but here is what I imagine happening...

Gamestop is going to have to suffer with less profit. The 100% on top of slightly questionable buy/sale values is most likely going to be replaced with more like 10-50% on top of a more set price. That's going to be interesting. Their first instinct is going to be to lower value of buys and increase value of sales, that's bad for the customer, but they're going to be kept in check by other outlets most likely.

Gamefly on the other hand... I'm guessing that either the developer makes nothing on a rental, or a much smaller percentage than a re-sale. They won't kill gamefly, but yea, you're probably right that margin will drop on their rentals of xbone games, they may move to tiered account that allows you to rent more expensive games. I imagine gamefly's subscription cost stays the same or slightly increases, I'll disagree with you on the significance on the amount I suppose.


My guess... and something I haven't seen speculated anywhere but that makes the most sense is that games themselves are going to be random serialized. Two things that MS will ensure:

1. There will be no hacking this go around. By randomly assigning each game a unique serial, MS will be able to ban console that attempt to play burnt games that are attempted but not on the legit codes list. You could clone a serial, but on first use it will tie to the account that used it, likely you could not guess a legit code. No amount of clever firmware hacks or optical drive emulation will help this.

2. This unique code system is how the re-sale system will work. Bring it in to Gamestop, they put it in a drive, they communicate to MS that removes that unique disc from a console. Mark my words - THERE WILL BE NO PAPER CODE in order to play your game.

[ekruob]

No way could they be serious about this - every man and his dog will buy a second-hand copy of the game they want to unlock and then return their 'locked' copy saying it wasn't unlocked when they bought it!

I.e. say someone owns a used - locked - copy of Halo 5.
They (or their friend) then go into the second-hand shop and purchase a used - unlocked - copy of the same game.
They return later with the receipt and their locked copy saying someone forgot to unlock it!

Unless each disc is visibly barcoded this scheme will fail (not to mention piss everyone off).


It's also worth pointing out that the registered/authorized used-game sellers (EB/Gamestop etc) will actually make far more profits as a result - purely because people cannot sell their games via eBay (unless eBay becomes an authorized intermediary - e.g. you ship your games to eBay and they unlock them and forward them onto your buyers).

Also means you can't share/sell games with friends and family - so sales will double (both for new games and used games).

I think Sony may cream MS this round if this process is one differentiator (quite possibly Sony and MS have colluded on the idea however).


P.S. I posted this very same concept (shops being involved with the locking of games to accounts) online a few months ago... would be totez hilarious if that's where they found the idea!

[xmod4u]

Oh, and also, used sales did help developers indirectly BTW. No way did all these generations survived and got noticed on new sales alone. Many wont risk new IP's with a 60$ purchase... Thinking that anyone not finding a used title will force them to buy it new is sadly mistaken. I have customers that browse the used section only, looking for that bargain game, they wont change their habits for no one.

And the PS2 lasted all these years based on new sales you think...

[wilgo45]

QUOTE(xmod4u @ May 24 2013, 07:45 PM)

Oh, and also, used sales did help developers indirectly BTW. No way did all these generations survived and got noticed on new sales alone. Many wont risk new IP's with a 60$ purchase... Thinking that anyone not finding a used title will force them to buy it new is sadly mistaken. I have customers that browse the used section only, looking for that bargain game, they wont change their habits for no one.

And the PS2 lasted all these years based on new sales you think...

xmod4u  -  good points, sir

Nice you see a truth in the matter.

During the time of Xbox One  .... I will probably be a ps3 player.  So I can game without silly ass hassles

[ekruob]

The only way Microsoft would get away with locking each game sale to a specific account is if they drop the price down to Steam level pricing (like $10 per copy for older games, and $30 for a new release).
If I have 5 children – each with an account – then they would obviously be totally F’ing dreaming (to use a colloquial Australian phrase) if they charged more than $100* for those 5 licenses!

* In Australia new games are generally $100 to $120.

… and unless Sony colludes with them, then Microsoft would have shot themselves in the foot – as it will be cheaper and easier to just buy a PS4 and all the games on it instead (more convenient without the need to unlock / only buy from authorized resellers).

[Alex548]

So they want money every single time the game changes hands.  
It's a load of crap.

Try that in the auto industry.  

[fallenangle]

This used 'scheme' is one of the most ill thought out piles of brown stuff I've come across.

Just where are we in the UK going to take our discs to trade in? Apart from the limit range at the supermarkets the only major specialist games retailers left on the high street shrunk their operation by 75% two years ago due to the recession. Many UK towns don't have anywhere selling new games within easy travelling distance any more.

The only way this could work here is all online with no physical media (the proposed scheme effectively makes physical media redundant anyway) and this means that the terms 'new' and 'used' are now meaningless.

We'll be selling our licence to play the games not the game itself at a price predetermined by MS. It is a fundamental change in the whole consumer/retailer relationship and I don't think MS have even thought about what the consequences of this could be.

It makes no sense to me; if the 'used' licence price is below the 'new' price everyone will be trying to buy their licence used. Why on earth would they do otherwise? A downloaded game isn't 'used' it is just the same as the one you buy at full price. This scheme may actually promote what MS is still calling the 'used' games market and they'll end up selling less 'new' games because of this.

Used licences will end up being the majority of the market but I doubt MS really care how it splits because setting the price for both they have monopoly control.

The law makers are far behind in legislating for consumer rights as regard their digital media. However this change could actually be the spur for them to act and even challenege the legality of what MS is proposing. Maybe this sort of trading practice is illegal under existing consumer laws in some countries already, I do hope so.

[relaxxx]

All I can say is please boycott this piece of crap. This kind of outrageous DRM policy could only appeal to the most brain dead of all mindless consumer whores. Consumers have the power, anyone buying into this BS system should be ridiculed to the end of time. Subscriptions and single use licences are for TOOLS and ZOMBIES. Mindless brand loyalty is for FOOLS. Tell MS to shove the "ONE" up their @$$ and let that ugly bastard ROT on the shelves! Turn your backs on MS as fast as they turned their back on the ORIGINAL Xbox 1.

[krayzie]

As I understand each disc will be tied to the live acount once installed. After that there is no use for the disc anymore and you can sell/borrow/do whatever wherever you like. Once a 2nd user puts the disc in there will be a notification that the disc is allready activated and an extra fee must be paid to reactivate it. I'm sure a online paying solution shall be setup a la play or app store.
Anyway I'm amazed how many peole drop into conclusion without any real concrete info and act like the whole world is falling apart. It's just a new device with new ways. Don't like it don't buy it

[deilzfcjk]

well what if you rent a game from like redbox? how would that work? It's going to be really interesting months to come. lol.

@Alex548
You know that certain collectors cars actually hold value and are worth more than blue book. Thereare certain niche enthusiast groups. just saying. But the trade-in value for the games on the xbox one are a little sketchy right now. So, I'll optimistically hold my breathe for now.